The village of Ligrohoin, located 18 km from Lakota in Côte d'Ivoire, is home to two public primary schools, EPP Ligrohoin 1 and EPP Ligrohoin 2, which make up the Ligrohoin school group. With a population of around 20,000 inhabitants, the locality faces significant educational challenges. On September 25, 2026, a ceremony was held to distribute school kits, but the event highlighted the numerous difficulties faced by students and teachers. The schools lack a perimeter fence, leading to intrusions by motorcycles and passersby.
The Ligrohoin school group has only nine classrooms for 607 students, forcing the implementation of double shifts to accommodate the large number of students. EPP Ligrohoin 1 has 308 students, including 168 boys and 140 girls, while EPP Ligrohoin 2 has 299 students, with 129 boys and 170 girls. The schools are severely overcrowded, and there is a shortage of desks, with an estimated 50 additional desks needed. The situation is further complicated by the encroachment of nearby homes onto the school grounds.
The lack of infrastructure extends beyond classrooms, with the school's latrines in a state of disrepair. Several toilets are unusable, and their proximity to nearby homes raises concerns about hygiene and safety. Parents and students have expressed concerns about the cleanliness and accessibility of the facilities. The school also lacks access to clean water, forcing students to rely on nearby residents for drinking water.
The school's canteen is also in a state of disrepair, having lost its roof in a storm. The building is currently without a roof, doors, or windows, depriving students of a vital resource for meal provision. The vice-president of the school's management committee, Dakouri Djaléga Arsène, has called for government assistance to rehabilitate the canteen. Students have expressed their desire for a functional canteen, highlighting the importance of this facility for their daily meals.
Despite these challenges, several initiatives are underway to improve learning conditions in Ligrohoin. The local council is constructing three new classrooms, while the deputy of Lakota, Abdoulaye Kouyaté, has initiated a project to build a three-classroom block. The state is also building a six-classroom block, a nursery, and additional latrines. These efforts are expected to alleviate some of the pressure on existing infrastructure.
The Portéo foundation has also made a significant contribution, distributing free school kits to all 607 students in the Ligrohoin school group on September 25, 2026. The kits include school uniforms, backpacks, and stationery, and have been welcomed by students and parents. These initiatives offer hope for improved learning conditions in the future.
As the 2026-2027 school year progresses, the people of Ligrohoin remain optimistic about the prospects for improvement. While challenges persist, the ongoing construction projects and social initiatives suggest that progress is being made. The community is eagerly awaiting the completion of these projects, which will hopefully lead to better learning conditions for students in Ligrohoin.
Key points
- Over 600 students in Ligrohoin's public primary schools face difficult learning conditions due to overcrowding and lack of infrastructure.
- Several initiatives are underway to improve learning conditions, including new classroom constructions and the distribution of school kits.
- The community remains hopeful that ongoing projects will lead to better learning conditions for students in Ligrohoin.
